Blogger Ruth Lee, 25, recently posted a pic on Instagram that was a departure from her typical beauty-centric content—an image of her stomach as it looked just a few days after giving birth to her daughter. In the post, the Utah mom shared that she didn’t expect her body to change drastically after childbirth. "I followed SO many pregnant models during my pregnancy. And when they photographed themselves poolside five minutes postpartum, I thought, 'Wow! I hope that happens to me!' " Lee writes.

But Lee's postpartum experience wasn't like that of the "pregnant models" she follows (or at least the life they portray on social media). The new mom explains that she had a "traumatic labor" followed by a cesarean section, and after childbirth she had "scars, stretch marks, and unfortunately the inability to breastfeed long term." She struggled to cope with how different her body looked, and she began to suffer from postpartum depression, too. It all became difficult for the new mom.

"I took this picture a few days after I gave birth, when my [postpartum depression] really first reared its head into my life," she writes. "I took this and actually was horrified. I couldn't believe it was me."

And that's why Lee wanted to share the photo, even though it proved difficult. She wanted to give other new moms and moms-to-be a "real" look at what pregnancy can do to a woman's body—and to show them they're not alone if they struggle with their confidence after birth. "I'm sharing it because I know in my heart that there are people out there that struggle with inadequacy. … Don't let social media taint your view of what is beautiful, what is REAL."

Doctors have previously told SELF that finding body confidence is often a challenge for new moms. "The body’s made to stretch and accommodate the baby, but it takes a little bit of time to go back to something even close to what it was before pregnancy," Idries Abdur-Rahman, M.D., a board-certified ob/gyn, previously told SELF. "So a lot of patients just get really down and depressed about the appearance of their stomach or stretch marks."

Over 4,000 people have liked Lee's photo, with many other moms thanking her for her honesty. "I'm 25 and gave birth 3 months ago," wrote one commenter. "Being so out of control of your own body is one of the hardest things and I also found it incredibly lonely, not being able to talk to anyone about it—so thank you."

"Honestly, I was completely blown away by the response that I have received," Lee tells SELF via email. "My inbox on Instagram is currently filled with sweet messages embracing the message I have shared. I have heard from women all across the world. The biggest phrases that keep coming up are 'I relate,' 'I thought I was alone,' 'Your story sounds so much like mine,' and 'THANK YOU.' I am touched that what I shared means so much to others."

As Lee writes in her post, it's important for new moms to be kind to themselves—and to reach out for help if they're struggling. "Know that you are not alone," she writes at the end of her post. "And above all, know that if you are struggling, I am here."